Royal Beach Club Paradise Island unveils colorful ferry fleet

Published on Oct 2, 2025, 3:22 pm CDT

6 min read

Royal Caribbean will move guests to Royal Beach Club Paradise Island in Nassau via a dedicated fleet of five colorful water ferries when the all-inclusive beach club opens in December 2025. Operated by 100 percent Bahamian-owned Bahamas Transport Logistics, the lightweight aluminum vessels are named Flirty Flamingo, Sassy Starfish, Coral Calypso, Twisted Turtle, and Lucky Lizard. The line says the ferries are part of a broader plan to deliver an authentically Bahamian, seamless ship-to-shore experience.

Key points

Why it matters: Dedicated ferries streamline access and set the tone for a Bahamian-forward beach-day experience.
Travel impact: Day-pass guests get roundtrip water transport included, simplifying Nassau call logistics.
What's next: Bookings continue as construction advances toward a December 2025 opening.
Five ferries, each with its own colorway and name, will run the short hop to Paradise Island.
Local operator Bahamas Transport Logistics will own and run the fleet.

Snapshot

Royal Beach Club Paradise Island will span 17 acres with two beaches, three pools, and 10 bars, including The Floating Flamingo, billed as the world's largest swim-up bar. Day passes include roundtrip ferry transport, Wi-Fi, beach games, umbrellas and loungers, lockers, and towels. Private options range from day beds to beach and poolside cabanas. The headline add-on is the Ultimate Family Cabana, a two-story retreat with a slide, whirlpool, frozen drink machine, private bathroom, and a dedicated attendant for up to 12 guests. For groups, the east or west side of The Party Deck offers a pool-front space for up to 12 with dedicated food and beverage service and unique amenities.

Background

Royal Caribbean is expanding its portfolio of controlled shore-day venues to complement its largest ships and high-demand Bahamas itineraries. In Nassau, the capacity-limited, paid Royal Beach Club model gives the brand curation and predictability ashore while highlighting local culture. Beyond The Bahamas, the company's pipeline includes Royal Beach Club Cozumel in 2026 and Perfect Day Mexico in fall 2027, followed by Lelepa in the South Pacific in early 2027. The staging of multiple private destinations is intended to disperse crowds, raise satisfaction, and deepen ancillary spend. For travelers, it creates a clearer path to pre-booked cabanas, clubs, and water features that often sell out on megaship days.

Latest developments

Ferry fleet revealed for Royal Beach Club Paradise Island

Royal Caribbean detailed the ferry program alongside an update on the beach club's progress, confirming the Bahamian-operated, five-boat fleet and its whimsical names and colorways. The announcement reiterated that day-pass inclusions cover the roundtrip transfer between the pier and Paradise Island, reducing reliance on Nassau road traffic and speeding time-to-beach. Executives framed the ferries as an extension of the destination's design ethos, which centers Bahamian art, color, and music. The company also highlighted food-and-beverage variety and multiple pool zones, including a DJ-driven Party Cove and a more relaxed Deep End pool, to keep flows balanced throughout the day. Travelers considering 2026 Bahamas cruises can expect Royal Beach Club inventory to align with ship schedules as the venue ramps.

Upsell options and limited-inventory experiences

The Ultimate Family Cabana anchors premium inventory with a two-level layout, private whirlpool, and a slide, plus a personal attendant and included day passes. Royal Cabanas and standard cabanas add choices for couples and small groups. Given capacity controls similar to Perfect Day at CocoCay, advisors recommend booking cabanas and special zones alongside the cruise deposit on high-call dates. For context on how private-destination capacity tightens with new tonnage, see our coverage of demand patterns tied to newbuilds like Star of the Seas in Port Canaveral, where premium shore-day inventory sells out earlier on peak calls. Related reading: Star of the Seas lifts capacity, tightens island passes.

Royal Caribbean's destination pipeline

Royal Caribbean continues to scale its destination portfolio beyond Nassau. Royal Beach Club Cozumel is slated for 2026, while Perfect Day Mexico is planned for fall 2027 in Costa Maya, broadening western Caribbean options that pair with short and weeklong itineraries. For a deeper dive into the Costa Maya project and port control, see Royal Caribbean takes over Costa Maya port for Perfect Day Mexico. These additions, combined with CocoCay, are designed to distribute volume and preserve a curated experience as larger ships concentrate guests on select call days.

Analysis

Royal Beach Club Paradise Island addresses a classic Nassau pinch point, transfer friction. A branded ferry fleet run by a Bahamian operator should cut variability between ship and shore and reinforce a sense of place from the first step aboard. The inclusions list is unusually comprehensive for a capacity-limited beach club, bundling transport, towels, lockers, Wi-Fi, and games with food and drinks, which simplifies budgeting and supports predictable flows. Where scarcity will persist is in premium inventory. The Ultimate Family Cabana and Party Deck spaces will be the first to disappear on multi-ship days, and pricing is likely to follow CocoCay's dynamic model. Travelers who value quieter zones should aim for early ferry departures to stake out seating at Chill Beach or The Deep End pool, then shift to livelier areas later. Strategically, the ferry reveal signals operational readiness and local partnership depth, a positive indicator as Royal Caribbean prepares to open and then scale day-pass allotments. For advisors, the playbook remains, secure the cruise, then immediately reserve cabanas and any specialty spaces aligned to family size and vibe.

Final thoughts

With the ferry fleet set and inclusions locked in, Royal Caribbean is positioning Nassau calls for smoother, more curated beach days. Expect early sell-outs for premium cabanas and group spaces, and plan to book those alongside your cruise. As more private destinations come online in Mexico and the South Pacific, the brand's ship-to-shore playbook will only strengthen. For Bahamas-bound travelers, the headline is simple, the easiest way to reach the sand this winter will be those bright new ferries bound for Royal Beach Club Paradise Island.